Top Echelon Recruiter Survey: Why Candidates Turn Down Job Offers

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According to a recent recruiter survey conducted by Top Echelon Network, an elite recruiter network of highly specialized search firms, the number-one reason candidates turn down an offer of employment from a company is because they received an offer from another company first.

A recent Top Echelon Network recruiter survey revealed the number-one reason candidates are turning down an offer of employment.

If companies do not act with urgency and decisiveness during the recruiting and hiring process, they risk losing out on the candidates they most want to hire.

As part of that survey, Top Echelon asked the following question of its Network recruiters:

“What’s the number-one reason candidates turn down an offer?”

RECRUITER SURVEY RESULTS:
The most popular answer among survey participants was “They receive an offer from another company first” at 38.8%. Close on the heels of that answer was “They feel the offer isn’t attractive enough” at 37.3%.

In third place was “They’re unable to sell their house and/or relocate” at 9.0%, while “Their spouse talks them out of it” finished fourth with 6.0% of the vote.

In addition, another 9.0% of recruiters chose “Some other reason” as their answer.

QUOTABLE:
“These survey results clearly show that companies are not moving quickly enough to secure the talent they want to hire,” said Top Echelon Chief Content Officer Matt Deutsch. “Superstar candidates, those who have the potential to make a significant impact, are receiving multiple offers. That’s the rule, not the exception, regardless of what’s happening in the economy overall.

“If companies do not act with urgency and decisiveness during the recruiting and hiring process, they risk losing out on the candidates they most want to hire. Extending an offer of employment is no guarantee that the offer is going to be accepted, especially if the candidate is receiving multiple offers. As candidates in certain industries and niches become more and more sought after, this is a trend that’s going to continue. Only the companies that adjust their mindset and their practices are going to hire the best talent available.”

ABOUT TOP ECHELON NETWORK:
Nearly 400 recruiting firms and agencies from all major industries are part of Top Echelon Network, founded in 1988 and based in Canton, Ohio. Network recruiters can search open job orders and qualified candidates, set up automated email alerts, and share information with each other for the purpose of making split placements.